Body found during search of missing Santa Cruz hiker

The search for missing Santa Cruz hiker Gregory Muck was temporarily suspended Wednesday after a body was found in Kings Canyon, according to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks officials.

Authorities identified the body Wednesday night as belonging to Gregory Muck, who was discovered by searchers at approximately 12,000 feet in elevation northwest of Mount Gardiner. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park staff are in the process of recovering it.

Crews were searching for the Santa Cruz man this week, who was reported missing in Kings Canyon National Park after he set out alone on Aug. 10 from the Roads End area of Kings Canyon, planning to hike to Gardiner Basin via Gardiner Pass. After several days in the basin, he planned to hike out Gardiner Creek to Woods Creek and return to Roads End in Cedar Grove by Aug. 17.

At 8 a.m. on Aug. 18, Muck’s wife reported him missing. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ staff began searching, assisted by the Yosemite National Park’s search and rescue crew and canine team, as well as the California Highway Patrol.

A total of 55 people searched by ground and by helicopter Tuesday, conducting interviewers with other hikers.

Muck was last seen wearing a bright blue shirt, green wool pants, black boots, and a blue bandana. He had with him a red backpack, fishing gear and possibly a blue tarp and orange tent.